Kicker Huegel a bright spot on Clemson’s special teams

When Clemson kicker Greg Huegel came up empty on two extra points in a 56-41 win over N.C. State on Oct. 31, he heard about it from “everybody,” including fans and friends.

“Nobody was happy. I got chewed out a lot,” Huegel said Tuesday. “You get complimented a lot or everybody’s upset with you.”

That’s life as a member of special teams — and at times this season, the players have heard the criticism.

Clemson (9-0, 6-0 ACC), which remained No. 1 in the weeks’ College Football Playoff ranking and plays at Syracuse (3-6, 1-4) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC, has given up two kickoffs returned for touchdowns this season.

The Tigers have allowed the most return yards (1,090) in the league. Of course, with the offense being tied with North Carolina for most points per game, coach Dabo Swinney’s squad has given teams a lot of opportunities (68) to make big plays on special teams.

Still, hardly a week goes by that Swinney hasn’t had to answer for giving up chunk yards on returns; the Tigers rank dead last in the league in net average kickoff coverage. Swinney’s acknowledged both personnel and effort issues, and vows that the team works hard on correcting mistakes.

“I know we have a bad rep at kickoff, but we probably cover more kicks than anybody,” Clemson running back Zac Brooks, who plays on special teams. “We play against some great teams in the return game. I feel like overall we have a very strong special teams. We had an (extra-point) block at N.C. State. I feel like we do a lot of good things.”

Huegel, who is from Blythewood, has been a big bright spot for Swinney, who suspended senior kicker Ammon Lakip back in the summer for a DUI and cocaine arrest. He sat out all of fall camp and the first three games of 2015, leaving Huegel, who walked onto the team this year, to win the job. He’s nailed all 12 of his attempts in ACC play, including 6-of-6 on the road, and has missed two field goals all season.

“I never thought that it would happen,” Huegel said about kicking for the top-ranked team in the country. “It’s still kind of surreal to me.”

He’s just one of three crucial players Clemson’s replaced in the kicking game. Long snapper Jim Brown and holder Seth Ryan, son of Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, are also new on the scene, and the trio has navigated several wet weather games without complication.

“Replacing our entire battery was a concern coming into the season. New snapper, new holder, new everything,” Swinney said. “Seth’s done a great job.”

Lakip has had 19 of his 44 kickoffs called a touchback; Huegel has just four in his 22 attempts.